of adventure she never anticipated being able to enjoy again. For the entire week- end, she was able to forego portable oxy- gen. She kept her cane nearby to help her navigate the uneven surfaces and stairs she encountered. Along with everyone else, she stood on the beach and moved through the simple, elegant forms that had become healing, life-changing. On the final day, a beautiful Sunday


morning after the class had practiced on the beach, Beverly turned to her instructor and asked, “Susan, will you walk with me into the water?” As the rest of the students watched


solemnly, the two made their way waist deep into the gentle waves. For Beverly it was an inspiring, totally unexpected mo- ment of triumph. Drawing another full breath, Beverly


grinned and said, “This is a long way from assisted living.” Beverly’s story is a clear example of


an extremely significant truth about human health: if a person is ill, injured or debili- tated, the recovery of that person’s health will involve physical activity. A corollary truth is, the lengthier the time required to recover, the greater the need for appropri- ate exercise. Awareness of this principle began to


emerge in several health fields in the mid- 20th century. For example, prior to World War II mothers who gave birth in hospitals were typically confined to bed for a week or more. When available hospital bed space became a premium during the war, new moms were forced to get up and move around after only two or three days. Doc- tors were surprised to discover that the health outcomes of the mothers were much better when they got out of bed sooner.


Similarly treatment for cardiac condi- tions—particularly heart attacks—changed dramatically in the last several decades. Myocardial infarction patients were typi- cally told they had to refrain permanently from strenuous physical activity. By the mid-1980s, however, cardiologists were intentionally subjecting their patients to carefully planned aerobic exercise pro- grams. Today it’s a rare marathon in which a heart patient isn’t lined up to race, con- fident of finishing the entire 26.2 miles. If our incorrect conventional wisdom


has been that the best way to get over an illness or injury is to “hold still until you’re completely well,” an even greater miscon- ception is that age-related decline is in- evitable and irreversible. Beverly, whose remarkable recovery was described above,


hasn’t been the only person whose serious, seemingly intractable health problems have been moderated, greatly diminished or completely overcome. Those who do conquer such issues pretty much have one thing in common: they got up and got moving. To be sure every specific ailment has an optimum treatment regimen and every ailing individual requires the advice of a physician in determining the type and extent of activity that is best. It seems clear, however, that the one form of exercise with the broadest ability to facilitate broad heal- ing and renewing of human physical abil- ity is Tai Chi. This statement is not opinion but rather “evidence based,” meaning decades of study on the efficacy of Tai Chi have repeatedly revealed the multitude of benefits experienced by its practitioners. Time Magazine, in an article entitled


“Why Tai Chi is as Good for You as Cross- Fit” published in April, 2017, reported: “Tai Chi is a richly researched exercise, with health improvements ranging from better blood pressure scores to a sharper mind. ‘We’ve seen improved immunity to viruses and improved vaccine response among people who practiced Tai Chi,’ says Dr. Michael Irwin, a professor of behav- ioral sciences and director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA. During the past 15 years, Irwin has pub- lished more than a dozen studies linking Tai Chi to lower rates of insomnia, depres- sion, illness and inflammation.” These scientific conclusions do not


come as a surprise to Derek, a fifty-some- thing professional who was diagnosed fifteen years ago with degenerative disks in his spine. Late in 2018 he flew from Charlotte to Los Angeles and back, spend- ing more than ten total hours in the very cramped quarters of the economy class of a commercial airliner. “Ever since I developed back trouble,”


he said in reflecting on the experience, “I knew I could not sit for more than an hour in one position without getting terrible cramps in my right leg. About halfway through that first flight I realized I should expect that excruciating pain—but it never happened. On the flight back home it was the same. No Charlie Horse. It dawned on me then that I’d been doing Tai Chi for my back for about eight months and during that time my cramps had much disappeared. I probably wouldn’t have realized it if it hadn’t been for that trip. I didn’t even realize how much better I’d gotten.”


Regardless of the health challenge you MARCH 2019 29


may be facing, one sure aspect of healing is physical activity. One exercise that is virtually universal in its benefit is Tai Chi.


Dr. Mike Simpson holds four teaching certifications from the Tai Chi for Health Institute, including Tai Chi for Memory and Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention. He currently teaches at several Winston-Salem locations including the Shepherd’s Center. For information about TCM or TCA, con- tact Dr. Simpson via email (healinmotion@ mail.com) or by telephone (336 918- 0108). You may also contact him for links to information discussed in the article above. See ad on page 17.


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